FAI still backing Trapattoni

Despite Tuesday’s agonising home draw with Austria putting Giovanni Trapattoni firmly back in the firing line, the FAI have no immediate plans to move against the manager.

That means the Italian should be secure in his job until at least September — barring, of course, a catastrophic result at home to the Faroe Islands in June.

The association’s board of management did convene yesterday but, unlike the emergency session which followed the Faroes game last October – when the FAI opted to back the manager amid raging speculation that he was about to be axed — this was a scheduled meeting and Trapattoni’s position was not an issue.